History, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts.

J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.

She cited the idealism of Abraham Lincoln, and of General John Stark of New Hampshire who coined the phrase that is the state motto “Live Free or Die.”

And this time I must note that Bachmann (or her speechwriters) got it right.

In 1822, John Farmer and Jacob Bailey Moore printed the first volume of their Collections, Topographical, Historical and Biographical, Relating Principally to New-Hampshire. It included a “Biographical Sketch of General John Stark” quoting some of his letters.

In 1809, a committee from Vermont invited Stark to a dinner commemorating “the action commonly called the Bennington Battle.” On 31 July, Stark wrote back from his home in Derryfield, declining the invitation on account of his age; “You say you wish your young men to see me. But you who have seen me, can tell them that I was never worth much for a show, and certainly cannot be worth their seeing now.”

Stark’s letter didn’t include the words, “Live free or die.” But the following year, the Vermont committee wrote again (in a letter published in 1860 in Memoir and Official Correspondence of Gen. John Stark) to say:

In your patriotic address to us last year, we regret that you tell us that the oil is almost extinguished in the lamp, and that age has rendered it impossible for you to attend, although we are again pressed by our fellow-citizens to give you an invitation to come and join in the festivities of the day. The toast, sir, which you sent us in 1809, will continue to vibrate with unceasing pleasure in our ears: “Live free, or die—Death is not the worst of evils.”

The Collections volume also printed that saying (without the comma), with the statement: “Accompanying this letter, the General forwarded as his volunteer this sentiment.” That appears to be a rare use of the word volunteer to mean a voluntary gift. So it appears that Stark sent that toast on a separate piece of paper, which was lost or else its full text would be reprinted, but the information on that paper was preserved by the second letter.

Now let’s savor the irony that New Hampshire’s motto was invented for, and preserved by, folks in Vermont. (Of course, the “Bennington Battle” actually took place in New York. See, it doesn’t pay to suggest that only Americans from one state are special.)

Since Bunker Hill Day is coming up, and since you mention John Stark -- famous for his defense of the American left flank -- perhaps you'd like to feature the other commander on the American left that day: Col. (later Gen.) James Reed. Reed and Stark prevented the British from rolling up the American left and enveloping Prescott's position in sort order, and so made Bunker Hill into a long and hard-fought battle instead of a quick rout (as Gage surely hoped it would be).

Reed is buried in Fitchburg, and I can pass along a photo of his fine biographical gravestone if you like.

I believe that, although the Battle of Bennington was fought for control of the territory centered on the town of Bennington in Vermont, the actual fighting took place in New York. The American troops were mostly Stark’s men from New Hampshire, but also included Warner’s men from Vermont—which had declared its own independence the month before. So it was a real mishmash.

Just thinking how the sentiment of “Live Free or Die” is the same as Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death,” but the latter doesn’t generate any laughs. Stark’s monosyllables make the idea more, well, stark.